Joy Division

Peter Hook told Big Shot that New Order is officially kaput. Though Hook isn’t on the best of terms with his former bandmates, he was in New York City last weekend to attend a screening of Joy Division: The Documentary, an excellent biopic that uses interviews with Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris (as well as an array of Manchester scenesters) to chronicle the rise and fall of Joy Division.

The documentary, which features rare audio and video, is an answer to Anton Corbijn’s rather excellent Control and provides even deeper insight into why singer Ian Curtis (who suffered from a bipolar disorder and epilepsy) committed suicide just before embarking on the band’s first American tour. Unlike many retrospectives that are afraid to ask its subjects tough questions, Joy Division doesn’t hold back and wonders why the rest of the band wasn’t alarmed over Curtis’ morose lyrics. Their contention: They never listened to his lyrics and blokes don’t ask each other how they’re feeling.

Below are highlights of the post-movie Q&A session with Peter Hook and producer Tom Atencio.

Police in Cheshire, England are investigating the theft of Joy Division vocalist Ian Curtis’ tombstone. Local police estimate the stone was stolen between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

A spokesman said: “There is no CCTV in the area and there are no apparent leads as to who is responsible for the theft. This is a very unusual theft and we are confident that someone locally will have knowledge about who is responsible or where the memorial stone is at present.”

According to the Telegraph, Curtis’s widow, Debbie, in “is in a state of disbelief and shock” and was informed of the theft after returning from a holiday.

Joy Division/New Order drummer Stephen Morris said he suspected the stone had been taken “as a sick souvenir,” adding, “We’ve all been wild and reckless in our time, but surely this represents a new low. It’s probably a fan who has taken it, and I would appeal to them to return it or leave it at the nearest police station.”

Police urged anyone with information to contact them on 0845 458 0000.